Maharashtra to begin 2018-19 sugar production from Oct 20

PUNE: Maharashtra government has decided to commence the 2018-19 sugarcane crushing season early from October 20 as the area under sugarcane has increased than normal.

“This is a good decision as there is surplus cane in many districts. Harvesting labour will also become available as the season will begin after Dassehra,” said sugar consultant Vijay Autade.

The committee of ministers headed by chief minister Devendra Fadanvis took the decision on Tuesday.

The state government has reduced the estimate of sugar production to 100 lakh tonnes from earlier estimate of 105 lakh tonnes due to deficient rainfall in some regions.

However Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana, the farmer organisation that fell out of the coalition government with BJP in Maharashtra has said that they will allow mills to begin operations only after there is clarity about sugarcane payments.

“We will announce the price that farmers want in our sugarcane conference to be held in Jaisingpur on September 27. Only those mills who agreed to pay the price farmers demand will be allowed to operate,” said Raju Shetty, founder leader of the Sangathana.

Looking at the 2019 general elections, which Swabhimani will contest, the organisation is expected to demonstrate its violent ways of agitations.

However, industry veterans think that the agitations impact may remain restricted to the Kolhapur region, which normally begins crushing only after November.